Specialist Expertise

PANDA operates Australia’s only specialist perinatal anxiety and depression National Helpline to support women, men and their families experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression, along with their partners, friends and families.

Expertise driven by lived experiences of perinatal anxiety and depression

Our daily contact with women, men and families affected by this serious and common illness gives us extraordinary insight into the complex rollercoaster journey experienced by many parents affected by perinatal anxiety and depression. In reviewing aggregate data from our National Helpline we have developed a unique understanding of perinatal anxiety and depression across the country.

We are committed to sharing this expertise to improve emotional and mental health outcomes for expecting and new parents and their children.

Secondary consultation

PANDA regularly consults with health professionals from across the country to help them manage patients with perinatal anxiety and depression. We help build the capacity of health professionals to validate and normalise the experiences of new and expecting mums and dads with perinatal anxiety and depression and to provide effective treatment and pathways to care for them.

We assist general mental health practitioners and services to understand the significance and complexities of the perinatal period. In so doing we help them support families affected by perinatal anxiety and depression while considering the needs of mum and dad, the baby and other family members.

Helping perinatal health workers understand mental health

While Maternal/Child Health Nurses, midwives and obstetricians have strong skills in perinatal health their training often focuses on physical health. Through secondary consultation PANDA helps these professionals identify and respond to psycho/social issues and emotional and mental wellbeing.

Helping GPs support perinatal mental health

General Practitioners (GPs) are under a lot of pressure to be experts in everything. But perinatal mental health is very complex. Sometimes GPs seek support from PANDA in managing patients with perinatal anxiety and depression. We also reach out to GPs to inform them about telephone counselling sessions with parents who are their patients so they can be prepared when they attend appointments.

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PANDA National Helpline (Mon to Fri, 9am - 7.30pm AEST)

1300 726 306

While PANDA has exercised due care in ensuring the accuracy of the material contained on this website, the information is made available on the basis that PANDA is not providing professional advice on a particular matter. This website is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this website is intended to be used as medical advice, nor should it be used as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.